Fractional CPO and COO Leadership by Adrien Padayachee
Make great products happen through effective product management — at the pace startups need for scaling and the standard enterprises respect in technology leadership.
Experience matters
27 years. 13 industries. 5 continents. 1 mission.
Make great products happen through effective product management — at the pace startups need for scaling and the standard enterprises respect in technology leadership.
the story
The journey till now
Adrien Padayachee is a South African-British executive with 27 years of experience in product management, building, scaling, and fixing technology businesses across five continents. His career spans South Africa, London, the Americas, Europe, and Asia—not as a tourist, but as a practitioner embedded in high-stakes environments. He has led product and operations at the enterprise level across various sectors, including financial services, gaming, telecoms, healthcare, and media. His clients and employers have included Mars Inc (global), Samsung (30 European markets), Telefonica UK, Funding Circle (FCA-regulated), FRVR (tens of millions of users), OutSystems (enterprise low-code), and The Joy App (an NHS-approved platform now serving 19.2 million patients across 30% of UK Primary Care Networks).
Adrien has often been the trusted no.2—and frequently the de facto no.1—across multiple fast-moving startups, showcasing his expertise in startup scaling. He builds product and operations functions from scratch, drives teams toward measurable outcomes, and absorbs operational complexity so that founders can focus on their unique contributions.
Today, Adrien works as a Fractional CPO and COO for scale-ups and growth-stage technology companies in the UK and South Africa. He is fluent in English, Afrikaans, and Portuguese. Rather than consulting from the sidelines, he actively participates, gets under the bonnet, and moves the business forward through effective technology leadership.
Qualifications and Certifications
Microsoft AI Product Manager
Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPO) — Scrum Alliance
Project Management Professional (PMP)
PRINCE2 — QA Institute, London
Bachelor of Commerce — UNISA, Johannesburg
SELECT CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Fractional CPO — The Joy App (NHS, London)
Director of Product & Innovation — A Bola (Lisbon)
Fractional CPO — The Joy App (NHS, London)
I established product management, QA, and support functions from the ground up, focusing on startup scaling. I guide AI integration and oversee the product roadmap for a suite of five NHS products that serve 19.2 million patients. Our operations are compliant with ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, and NHS IM1 standards, showcasing our commitment to technology leadership.
Fractional CPO/COO — CarePoint365 (London)
Director of Product & Innovation — A Bola (Lisbon)
Fractional CPO — The Joy App (NHS, London)
As a direct report to the founder, I served as the single point of accountability across product management, engineering, customer success, and operations for a 5-module platform designed for UK care homes. I successfully built the entire Product and Delivery function from scratch, demonstrating strong technology leadership during our startup scaling efforts.
Director of Product & Innovation — A Bola (Lisbon)
Director of Product & Innovation — A Bola (Lisbon)
Director of Product & Innovation — A Bola (Lisbon)
Led mobile app strategy and launch for Portugal's largest sports media company, showcasing strong technology leadership. Delivered apps for iOS and Android in time for UEFA Euro 2024, driving a 20% increase in mobile traffic. This initiative also contributed to a 25% growth in revenue and a 12% increase in engagement time, highlighting effective product management and the potential for startup scaling.
Senior Product Manager — FRVR (Lisbon)
Product Consultant — Samsung, Telefonica, Funding Circle (London)
Director of Product & Innovation — A Bola (Lisbon)
Led the mobile transformation of Krunker.io through effective product management, executing over 20 A/B tests. This technology leadership resulted in a Day-1 retention increase of 30%, a 30-day retention boost of 25%, and engagement growth of 45%, all critical for startup scaling.
Senior Digital Technology Consultant — Mars Inc (London)
Product Consultant — Samsung, Telefonica, Funding Circle (London)
Product Consultant — Samsung, Telefonica, Funding Circle (London)
Led product management for digital marketing and commerce technology strategy in the global Food segment. Provided technology leadership while managing cross-segment digital product initiatives globally, focusing on startup scaling.
Product Consultant — Samsung, Telefonica, Funding Circle (London)
Product Consultant — Samsung, Telefonica, Funding Circle (London)
Product Consultant — Samsung, Telefonica, Funding Circle (London)
Delivered product management solutions, mobile investing platforms, loyalty programmes, and CMS replatforming for major enterprise clients across London, showcasing technology leadership and supporting startup scaling efforts.
